When you’re picking out paint, you might not pay as much attention to the paint finish, but in actuality, it plays a very important role on the overall durability as well as the usability of the paint.

To save yourself a lot of time and money, you should keep the sheen in mind. Different finishes also impact application as well as the drying time. Knowing the right paint finishes will allow you to capitalize on this aspect and ensure that you have the right paints for the right rooms with ease.

What Are the Different Kinds of Paint Finishes?

Not just meant for decoration purposes, different paint finishes can make your home stand out for the better. Due to this reason, it is very important that you consider what kind of paint finish you are looking for. It doesn’t matter what kind of color you are thinking of using. If you don’t pay attention to the finish, you will end up with a paint that requires regular touchups.

Re-touching the painted walls in your home might be a challenge as well if you don’t pick paint that is durable. If the paint in your home is requiring touchups too frequently, it is not only going to cost you a lot of money; it means that you haven’t picked the right ones for yourself. By focusing on the sheen and finish of the paint, you get to narrow your search down and ensure that you’re making the proper purchase.

The following are the major kinds of paint finishes you can come across when you’re looking for the perfect one for you:

Flat

This is the most basic paint you can find and it has no sheen. It is favored because it can be used to hide imperfections on a wall with ease. It also delivers more, in terms of pigment and color saturation. This makes it one of the most affordable and flexible paints to use. It can also be less time-consuming to use flat paint because of its deep coverage. Careful usage is necessary because it doesn’t do well in high-traffic areas of the house. Luckily, it is very easy to apply and application time can be shortened with it. Similarly, it does not highlight the flaws in application as much so you have a little more leg room for errors.

Matte

Similar to flat paint, matte has a low-sheen finish to it that makes it slightly lustrous. Again, much like flat paint, it is very useful for hiding any imperfections in the wall. Colors and pigments are also more saturated on matte paints because it tends to absorb light. Cleaning matte painted walls and areas are also more challenging as the paint can come off with the grime. The paint is suited for use in low-traffic areas of the house. Much like flat paint, matte finish paint is also easier to apply and it hides application flaws very well too. On the other hand, you don’t have as much leg room as you do with flat paint so be sure to prep the surface area. Prepping also ensures that you are able to improve application and it makes the results last longer with ease.

Eggshell

Eggshell paint falls between flat and satin paint because of its velvety finish. Interestingly, it is named because its finish is similar to that of an eggshell. It has no sheen and low luster but the velvety finish sets it apart. Interestingly, eggshell is great for use when you want to hide imperfections. Despite its low luster, it is more durable than flat paint and can be easily used in moderate traffic areas of the house. Care does need to be taken because it is still a bit sensitive to bumps or scrapes. Prepping can help to eliminate the flaws in application. It can also highlight irregularities in surface area so this needs to be applied carefully.

Satin

Named because of its lustrous sheen, satin paint has an almost velvety sheen, which is enhanced by higher luster than eggshell paint. It has a softer, pearl like appearance and can be used in high traffic areas. The paint is also very durable and resistant to moisture, making it perfect for use in areas of the house where it might be exposed to moisture. Satin paint can be tricky to use as it can reveal flaws in application such as brush strokes or roller brush tracks. Touchups can also be tricky to apply. Again, prepping can play a huge role in making things easier, but satin paint is notoriously difficult. Careful application as well as careful prepping can help you to ensure that you get a smoother result with ease.

Semi- Gloss

With a higher sheen than satin, semi-gloss paints are better suited for high traffic areas around the house. They are also extremely durable and can be used in areas of the home where oil drips and moisture drips can be a bit of a problem. The higher sheen also makes them great to use to paint the trim around the house. Unfortunately, it is also tricky to apply and you get the smoothest results from using multiple thin coats instead of a thick coat. Prepping is required of not only the surface area but also the brushes. The brighter sheen it has will highlight the flaws better than satin pain finish. However in some surface areas, you can still get away with mild prep work.

High Gloss

The shiniest paint finish there is, high gloss paint is extremely light reflecting and has an ultra shiny finish. The interesting part is that despite the ultra shine it has, it is extremely durable and it is the easiest paint sheen to clean. This makes it a great paint to use in high traffic areas, for finishing cabinet doors and trim around the house. On the other hand, the high gloss highlights every single flaw when it is being applied so careful attention needs to be paid to proper prep work. The high gloss can also make it a difficult color to use in the interior of the home so careful thought needs to be given on which areas in the house this needs to be used in.

With the help of the identifiers above, you can understand more about the kind of paint finishes that are available. As a general rule of thumb, it is believed that the higher the shine, the more durable the paint is going to be. On the other hand, the lower the shine, the less visible are the flaws in application. For this reason, you will have to actively choose between durability and visibility.

How to Use Different Finishes Around the House?

Another aspect you should keep in mind is that it is rarely ever possible for you to just pick one type of paint for your home. Based on the kind of traffic you experience in that place, you will have to make some adjustments. For this reason, you should try to pick out different paint finishes that will be better suited for a particular place in your home.

The following are some common areas of the house and the kind of paints you should be picking to use in them:

The Kitchen

This is a high traffic area of the house and one where there is excess moisture, grease, oil and more. Food accidents can increase the chances of the paint getting food splattered on it. Similarly, if you have toddlers, you can expect for the walls to be touched with grimy, food covered fingers. In this area of the house, you need to ensure you have paint that is durable, that is easy to clean and that can withstand the high traffic you are experiencing.

Recommendation: Satin paint or semi-gloss finish paint. Both paints are durable, easy to clean and are resistant to moisture, grease and other food particles.

The Bathroom

Bathrooms are moderate traffic areas of the house but it depends on how many people are in the house. With bathrooms, moisture and water drips are a major problem. Too much moisture can cause paint to

bubble, peel or grow mold on it. It can also cause the paint to slowly deteriorate over time. For bathrooms, it is necessary to pick a paint finish that can withstand a lot of moisture and is easy to clean up as well.

Recommendation: Satin paint or semi-gloss finish paint. Both paints are durable, easy to clean and are resistant to moisture.

The Living Room

Living rooms in homes are high traffic areas which is why they need high resistant paint that is easy to clean, durable and has a muted sheen. While high gloss or semi-gloss finishes are preferred because of their durability, the sheen can be a problem. In a high traffic area, such as the living room, the reflective surface of the high gloss finish might be annoying to deal with particularly if you watch television in that room. Opting for a more muted gloss finish is a better option in this case.

Recommendation: Satin paint or eggshell finish paint. Both paints are durable and easy to clean. Keep in mind that only satin paint can stand up to high traffic. Eggshell paint should only be used if your living room experiences moderate traffic.

The Dining Room

Dining rooms are usually low traffic areas, which gives you more flexibility in picking a paint finish for this room. You want to make sure that you have a paint that looks good, gives you smooth walls but it is also easy to clean up. Most dining rooms do not have to worry about moisture or grease smears but if you have little children, grimy food fingers might be a bit of a problem here.

Recommendation: Satin paint or eggshell finish paint. Both paints are durable and easy to clean. Keep in mind that only satin paint can stand up to high traffic. Avoid using matte paint as despite its ability to be used for moderate to low traffic areas, it can be difficult to clean.

The Bedroom

The bedroom, particularly for the adults are low traffic areas because you don’t get to spend all day at home. This gives you bigger flexibility in picking out the paint finish for them. On the other hand, if you’re considering painting the kid’s bedrooms, this can be counted as a high traffic area, particularly if they are small. Luckily, for bedrooms, you can skip a little on the paint budget and get a low sheen paint finish.

Recommendation: Matte paint finish or flat finish paint. Both paints are highly pigmented, easier to apply and can hide flaws in the wall. Keep in mind that only matte paint can stand moderate traffic. Flat paint should only be used in areas where you know for sure that there is low traffic. Otherwise it can be difficult to clean up.

With the help of the recommendations above, you can easily pick out the best paint finish for your home, based on the usability and durability of the paint. Now paint application can be a bit tricky and if you want to get eggshell paint or satin paint, it might be a good idea to work with the professionals. With their help, you can get the smoothest, shiniest walls with ease.

Work With One Man and a Brush – Pro Painters

If you’re considering making use of professional painting services for your home, get in touch with One Man and A Brush Pro Painters. Our services are perfectly crafted to meet all your painting needs. With our eye for architectural design and understanding of interiors, we can give your home the perfect makeover that you have been hoping for.

For more information about our services, make an appointment or to get a quote on a certain project, please get in touch with by calling on: 678-368-5115. With a BBB accreditation and a stellar reputation, we are the best professionals to handle any painting job you might have in mind. Whether you need the interior painted or exterior painted or have some other DIY project in mind, we can provide you with the best results to give you your dream home.